Sight of royal knees inspires catwalk

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A photograph of the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles
taken in Scotland was the inspiration for an Italian designer's
collection shown at Milan Fashion Week.

Anna Molinari described the photograph, in which the Prince wore
a kilt, as "fun and romantic".

"I believe in love, and for Charles and Camilla to be still in
love at their age after so many years, is fantastic," the designer
said. The couple, she added, represented a modern interpretation of
tradition - but her fairytale version of the Balmoral dress code
for her Blumarine label blew tradition out of the window.

Molinari's unique take on the Prince and his fiancee involved
tiny fur capes, trimmed with faux ermine, and mink-ruffed cardigans
that stretched over cleavage.

A selection of satin mini-crinolines had been printed with
bagpipes, stags and heraldic emblems. With a nod to Prince Charles'
title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Gordon Highlanders, she produced
regimental jackets that bristled with silver embroidery, sequins,
military insignia and fur.

Would any of this appeal to the happy couple? The hooded
sheepskin jackets and gold-embroidered khaki anoraks might come in
handy on the grouse moors, but the 15-centimetre spike-heeled
peek-a-boo platforms would prove treacherous on the flagstones of
any stately pile.

"Camilla has a great personality," Molinari said. "Her style is
classic, but . . . ironic and friendly and she gives a special
individuality to all the clothes she wears."